Tufting machine



Jan. 41s, 1927.

E. W. STEINBECK TUFTING MACHINE Filed Dec. e, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan.18, 1927.A E. w' STEINBECK y 6 TUFTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 6, 1924 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Erle l!! .fembeck Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

limma ERL-naw. STEINBECK, or or-rrcneo, ILLINOIS.

TUFTING Application filed December' This im'entionrelates to tuftingdevices ofathe type adapted to be used fortufting rugs-and the like.

It. isv an object of this invention to provide a device of thischaracter which will facili tatel and expedite tufting but which willstill enable the person doing the work to apply such skill and craft tothe work as `to make it hand made.

` With the above and other objects in view as will be apparent,-thisinvention consists in the construction, combination and arn rangement ofparts,4 all as hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustratedi in the accompanying draiif'ings.`

On thedrawings: Y f Figure 1 is a view of the device in operation.

Figure 271s an enlarged plan view of the device.

Figure 3 is a side view of Figure 1. y

Figure 4 is a horizontal section ofthe fori wardpart of theV device.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view showing the tufting operation.

Figure 6 isa side view of the same.

Figure 7 isa modification of the device.

Figure 8 is a horizontal section of Figure 7. l

Figure 9 is a section at the line IX-IX of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is asection along` the line X-r of. Fig. 7.

Figure 11 is a detailr view of anadjusi able needle, l

Figure 12 is a sectional view of the conl struction show-.n in Figure11, taken at a right angle thereto.

As shown in the drawings: y

The device comprises two similar body members 1 and 2havingtherespective handles 3 'and 4. integral therewith. As shown' in Figure 2the body members 1 and 2 are slidable vertically along their inner sidesrelative to each other. Secured at the upper inner end of the bodymember 1 is a needle member 5 having an eye 6 therein. In juxtaposedposition with saidneedle 5 is a fiat pin member 7 secured to the bodymember 2. By reference to Figure 6 it will be seen that when the bodymembers 1 and 2 are together' in normal position the pin member 7 ex?tends just up to the eye 6 of the needle 5. The end of the pin memberhas a flat sharp edge and is shaped to extend part way up on either sideof said eye 6.

' section S).

MACHrNE.

e, 1924.. serial no.- 754,270.

On each side of the device is a wire member havinga forward section 8andan after Said wire 'members are secured on eachy side of the bodyymember 1 at the points 10, 11 and 12 and may be formed of a single wireextending through themember 1 atv the point 12. Pinsl 13 on eitherside'of the body member 2 coact with the forward Section 8 of the wiremember to normally Yimpel the two body members together by thespringlaction of said section 8. Both of said sections 8 andV Qoneitherside of the device serve also guides for theslidable body members. x

Pins'll coact with the after sections 9 of the wire member tofprovidelforward and rear. stops `respectively whenthe body members are movedrelative to each other for.Y

tufting. rin adjustableeye member 15 having a rounded inner end 16thereon in the body member 1 coacts with a groove 17 in the body member2 to move the forward ends of said members apartv a vshort distance astl e member 2 is moved upward `relative to the member 1. as shown indotted line position in Figure 2 or full line position in Figure Il. Thedistance which said body members willA be moved apart by said. member 15ma)vv be varied by adjusting the member 15. The eye member 15 servesalso as a lead for, the yarn or thread 18. Guard members 17EL secured tothe body members on the outside thereof by means of screws 17c in slots17b provide a means for varying the eifective lengths of the pin 7 andthe needle 5 A roller 18L secured in a recess 18b inthe member 1 bymeans of a transverse pin 18c is adapted Yto abut the inner surface ofthe body member' 2 for reducing the friction `between the inner surfacesof the body members. Y

Figures 7 to 10 inclusiveshow av modified form of the vdevice in whichplate members 2O on either side of the forward end. of member 1 havecurved` edges coacting with pins 21 for moifing said end away from thebody member 2. These plates thus take the place of the eye member 15 andgroove 17 (Figure 4t) and the guide function of the sections 8 (Figure2). A spring member having' sections 22 and 23V lying in a recess 2e inthe body member 2 and secured as at points 25 and'26 to the body member1, coacts with transverse pins 27 28 and 29 and takes the place offorward section 8 in nor- Cil mally holding the body members together,

'- to a. common retaining pin 32.

as well as thc place of after sections 9 as a guide for the afterportions of said slidable body members, and the place of after sections9 in coacting with stop pins 14 to form forward and rear stops for therelative movement of the two body members.

The pins 28 and 29 are secured to the respective plates and 31 which areslotted to permit relative movement with respect AS shown in Figure 8and iu detail in Figures` 11 and l2 the lower ends of the needle 5 andthe pin 7 may be slotted and adapted to be ver-.

tically adjusted with respect to the screws 5tL and 7 thus taking theplace of the guards 17 for varying the depth of the stitch.

The operation is as follows:

The yarn or thread 1S is led from the spool or ball through the eyemember 1.5 and the eye 6 of the needle 5. In the position shown inFigure 1 with the body member 1 in forward position, the needle is i11-serted through the fabric or the like 19 carrying a loop of the yarn 18therethrough.

- The body member 2 carrying the pin 7 thereon is then moved forward tothe position shown in Figure, The pin 7 enters the same hole alongsideof the needle 5 and on further relative movement of the body members theneedle 5 is moved out of the hole leaving the pin 7 therein to hold theloop of the yarn 18 in the fabric 19. Due to the inner end 16 of the eyemember 15 coacting with the groove 17 the needle 5 is moved away fromthe pin 7 as said needle is moved downwardly. On the next insertion ofthe needle 5 in the fabric 19 it will be found that due to theabove-mentioned moving away on the outward stroke the needle 5 has beenautomatically spaced away from the pin 7 for .the new stroke or stitch.

It will be apparent that a person using this devicecan put practicallythe same amount of personal skill into the work as if the needle wereheld in the hand and that it affords a pleasant and amusing means fortufting. In addition to the above-mentioned advantages it greatlyfacilitates the work and enables one to turn out a much greater amountof work.

It will also be seen that the device is simple of structure andoperation.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through awide range without departing from the principles of this invention, andI therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise thannecessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A tufting device, comprising a pair of relatively movable members, aneedle member on one of said members for making a hole in a fabric, saidneedle being adapted to support a strand of thread and carry the bightthereof through said hole, a pin member on the other of said membersadapted to enter said hole alongside of said needle member` a springwire connected to one of said members at one end and intermediate itslength, pins on the other member engaging said wire on opposite sides ofsaid intermediate connection, one pin serving to limit the relativemovements of the members, the other pin serving to increase the tensionon said wire when said members are forced apart, and means for forcingsaid members apart at the needle end under certain relative adjustmentof said members.

2. A tufting device, comprising a pair of relatively movable members, aneedle member on one of said members for making a hole in a fabric, saidneedle being adapted to support a strand of thread and carry the bightthereof through said hole, a pin memM ber on the other of said membersadapted to enter said hole alongside of said needle member, a springwire passing through an aperture in one member at the end opposite theneedle end, said wire on each side being connected to said memberintermediate its length and extending at its other end into a springmember, pins on the other member engaging said wire on opposite sides ofsaid intermediate connections, one pair of pins serving to limit therelative movements of the members. the other pair of pins serving toincrease the tension on said wire when said members are forced apart,said wire acting` to prevent lateral displacement of said members, andmeans for forcing said members apart at the needle end under certainrelative adjustment of said members.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ERLE IV. STEINBECK.

ICQ

